Disclosure: I have received no compensation for this post. Any opinions are my own and may differ from your own. Please contact ohsoamelia@hotmail.co.uk with any questions or if you would like to take part in the next big event sign up to the mailing list here.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Looking back through our years together, I can honestly say
that I have never been more satisfied in our relationship as I am today. Marital bliss is not the same
thing as lustful passion, although passion is a necessity for marriage. A
Christ-centered marriage is far more rewarding than youthful puppy-love and
romance.

I've been falling in love with the same person every day –
over and over… for over four years now... and still, God renews us each day and
it never gets old. I am married to my best friend. We even finish each other’s
sentences. And though our attention gets swallowed up by mundane daily tasks a
lot of times, there is a wonderful blessing to having complete trust and faith
in God's ability to keep us together through the trials of life.

To my newly engaged and/or recently married friends, there's no magic pill that guarantees
you will stay together and have a wonderful union... it all boils down to
sacrifice, service, loyalty, thoughtfulness, and Jesus .

Monday, July 29, 2013

Hello there,
I'm Sonya, living in California but a European girl through and through.
I thought long and hard about how I would introduce myself in this post
and struggled to find an idea that would showcase my blog and my
personality. I spent a majority of my time looking at how others decided
to present themselves and realized that most centered it around a
passion or business that had brought to life there blogs.

Insert a moment
of serious panic and anxiety, as I realized, I had neither. This lead
to some amount of introspection into what I wanted my blog to be and if I
would ever truly thrive in the blogging world without a "niche" or
business behind the blog. Considering that I had to write this post, I
was forced to push this long inner discussion aside and focus into
typing something up. This is usually how things start with me: research;
inner discussion; serious procrastination; draft; more procrastination;
final draft. The reason I procrastinate is not because I'm not
organized but rather because I'm a perfectionist at heart (with a slight
case of OCD, my magazines are organized by genre and date, while my
clothes are color coordinated) and will never start a project unless I
know how I will end it. I finally decided that the best way for you to
get to know me was to let you follow along my stream of consciousness.
Bare with me, I've mastered the art of tangentry (is that even a word?
perhaps it is spelled: tangent-ry).

Proof: I've
written a long paragraph without mentioning my blog. (I'd write another
to justify that but I'm not here to bore you)

When it
comes to blogging I try to touch on a variety of subjects not to try to
grab as many readers as possible (but I guess that is definitely a
perk) rather because it is a reflection of my eclectic taste and
interests. Because of my unique heritage I have had the opportunity to
travel in France, Italy, Tunisia and Mexico and the lists of places I
wish to explore is never ending. I'm lucky enough to have relatives in
those countries which enables me to return on a regular basis to visit
them. I'm a big believer in the notion that the knowledge you acquire
through travel is precious and priceless.

Food is
my jam....did you catch that pun? My mother is Italian and French and
through her I fell in love with food and the arts. I've always had a
sweet tooth, mainly for chocolate. My belief is that you could add
chocolate to absolutely anything and it would instantly make it better
and I mean anything. Don't worry though, the recipes I share on my blog
are not even remotely related to chocolate covered green beans, I'm not
that evil :) Something I realized recently, when my friend came to stay
with me in Paris, is that rather then telling her we should visit this
or see this I would say "O there's this restaurant I want to bring you
to" or "There's a little place a few blocks away that makes the best magret de canard" I connect places with food.

As I
grew up I would always envy my sisters closet. It symbolized everything I
had always loved in fashion: maturity, simplicity and the monochrome
look. I have always leaned toward the preppy look, not perhaps not as
"preppy" as you'll find in Vogue magazines but I'm definitely a blazer
and blouse kind of girl. If I had to describe my wardrobe it would be
simple, versatile and classy. When I do outfit posts or share my
favorite items of the week you can quickly spot that trend.

Something
I have not explored fully in my blog but definitely love is the realm
of cosmetics. I've been watching make-up tutorials for as long as I have
had access to a computer; and unfortunately, my skills have only
barely improved (whenever I play with eyeshadow I end up giving myself
the dreaded black eye look). Though my skills may be mediocre, at best,
my passion started (and still is) in skincare. One must care for the
inside rather then covering up the outside. A book I found indispensable
was written by Kat James: The truth about beauty, it's fantastic and I recommend it to everyone.

I
feel like I've rambled on enough, what do you think? I hope I have been
able to give you a glimpse into who I am, hopefully I made you smile
while I tried. Candid, is really who I am, and that is what you will
find on my blog. I would love to get to know you, please pop on over and
say hi.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Hello there! It is time for the Let's Be Friends Blog Hop #22! Link up to gain new followers on GFC or bloglovin'!

Promote this blog hop by putting the button on your page, or throwing a shout out at the end of your post today or tomorrow. The more link ups we have the more our blogs will grow! Invite a friend, tweet it, or let your Facebook friends know! :)

Thursday, July 25, 2013

I move and act and think differently since you were first laid in my arms. I have more purpose behind my reasons and more motivation to my actions.

I have watched you grow from an infant, to a baby, to a toddler in what feels like a single breath and at every stage I have said “This is my favorite age” because they have all felt exactly so. You keep us laughing and guessing and entertained every single day. What a joy you are to your father and I and Keegan and Bailey.

I am so proud of your creativity and energy and the way you are already welcoming and engaging the world around you. You are so lovely in your smallness, in your brave spirit, and in the sweetness of your heart. Here’s to two years of this beautiful life, Reef William. On this very day two years past, in the first hours of that day, I was bringing you into the world -- and it was the start of amazing.

I can’t wait for the gift of this next year with you. and the one after that. and a lifetime of watching you become. The whole world is yours for the taking and I have no doubt that’s exactly what you’ll do.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

I seem to be having this conversation more often than not – with friends
just entering the world of parenting. I suppose fellow mommy friends feel I’m all
knowing in the world of raising children, since my seniority reigns at roughly
13 years. But I am hardly worthy of advice. I just know what has worked for me
and my family. And the jury is still out on whether it’s actually “worked.”

Pete and I believe that our mission as parents is to raise our children
filled to the brim with love, as both the giver and the receiver. But children
are born sinners…it is innate to us all. So, as soon as we feel a child can
decipher right from wrong, we whole-heartedly help to form and shape them to
model respect and kindness. Our parenting isn’t filled with doom and gloom and
constant correction, but the potential for discipline indeed hangs lowly above
at all times.

There is comfort in knowing your boundaries, and I think children
thrive in an environment where expectations are clearly understood. Alongside
that, we compliment our children with positive praise and encouragement,
enabling them and empowering them with confidence and independence. And oh, how
we fail at times – anger and frustration get the best of us. So, we pray and
read and seek resolve, but most importantly we surround ourselves with people
who propel us in a Godly way of parenting.

I’ve once or twice been told that we’re too hard on our children, and I
do, in fact, wonder at times if maybe. But then I’m told by teachers and
parents how ideal my children behave, and that squashes any doubt I may have
had. Our kids might be manipulative and bratty at home, but their light shines
when it counts.

Our 2-year is quite energetic. As much as any 2-year old, I presume.
He’s busy exploring this world and living life to the fullest. Sometimes, I
fall back into my chair and mutter, “Can you just be still for 5 minutes?”

I want to cuddle with him more often. Wrap my arms around
him and hold him tight. Rub his back and run my fingers through his beautiful
blonde locks. And then I realize…he’s just like me – never wants to sit still –
always wants to DO something.

I wonder if God feels this way with me. Wanting me to be
still – to revel in His love. To hear Him say “you are special and I love you.”

Friday, July 19, 2013

Hello there! It is time for the Let's Be Friends Blog Hop #22! Link up to gain new followers on GFC or bloglovin'!

Promote this blog hop by putting the button on your page, or throwing a shout out at the end of your post today or tomorrow. The more link ups we have the more our blogs will grow! Invite a friend, tweet it, or let your Facebook friends know! :)

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

You! Yes, you, you mom that pulls off a toddler birthday party with
style and panache and never break a sweat. I envy you. I mean, I don’t even
deserve to ride in your mini-van, I’m so unworthy.

I’m a mommy to a 2
year old. Well, will be 2 at the end of this month. And he’s totally aware of it because we’ve been teaching him to say “I two” while holding up the peace-sign-two-finger
hand gesture.

So. This is a big deal. Two years of Reef, two years of being alive, two
years of diapers. (Seriously. That has to add up to like 608,000 diapers). It's
been a good run of babyhood and toddlerhood. And I'm ready to celebrate.

We’re planning on having friends and classmates gather to ingest loads of sugar and sing “happy birthday” in high-pitched voices while all kinds of pandemonium
breaks out as the excitement of having something other than goldfish for snack
takes hold.

Luckily, Reef doesn’t know about Pinterest and the insanity moms are going to
for crafting life-size images of their children with marshmallow cream and
fondant. He also doesn't know that toddler moms everywhere are Instagram'ming
the hipster parties. I am not THAT mom, but I do have some small talents of my
own. Like re-creating ideas I love and tweaking them just a little.

A miniature version of a shopping cart found its way into
the middle of my closet. Orphan socks lay on our kitchen table, patiently
awaiting their mate. An overly ripened avocado hides among the bright fruits
and vegetables in the refrigerator drawer. Life seems to be a juxtaposition of
unlikely objects in my role as mother of an adventurous, curious toddler. Reef’s
daily life is a series of opposing pairings. From sucking his thumb and wanting
to be held like a little baby to demanding to take the stairs himself, his
behavior is a study of opposites. The mother’s life too reflects the often
uneasy pairing of the polished professional woman with the sometimes (most of
the time) frazzled, uncertain or exasperated mother of a young child. There is
I believe a lesson to be learned in these contrasts. My life is enriched by the
unexpected, popping up in refreshing ways, keeping me alert and reminding me
not to sit too comfortably in one place for too long. A puzzle piece amidst my
hair accessories? Well, why not?

I am learning to slow down, enjoy and soak it all in. I've learned to find joy
in the chaos and embrace the unexpected...